Best Chip Easy Access Saver Alternatives 2026: 6 Top Options
Last updated: 13.06.2026
Chip has built a loyal following by offering some of the most competitive easy-access rates on the UK market, paired with a slick app, automatic saving nudges, and round-up features that make saving feel almost effortless. FSCS protection is in place via its partner bank, so your money is covered up to £85,000. For straightforward, app-driven saving with a headline rate that frequently sits near the top of best-buy tables, Chip does its job well.
That said, three specific gaps send savers looking elsewhere. First, the advertised rate almost always includes a temporary bonus, sometimes worth 0.71 percentage points or more, that expires after 12 months, meaning the underlying rate is notably lower. Second, Chip is app-only with no branch fallback and no telephone banking. Third, because the rate is variable and changes without much notice, savers who want certainty or a guaranteed return over a fixed period will find Chip frustrating. If any of those points resonate, the six alternatives below are worth a close look.
The best alternatives Chip Easy Access Saver
Best for: ISA savers who want a market-leading tax-free rate and are comfortable with a 12-month bonus period.
The Trading 212 Cash ISA offers 4.81% AER variable, made up of a standard rate of 4.10% AER plus a 0.71% bonus payable for the first 12 months after opening. There is no monthly fee and the account is opened entirely online. FSCS protection applies up to £85,000, placing your money on the same regulatory footing as any fully authorised UK bank. Because contributions sit inside an ISA wrapper, interest is earned tax-free regardless of your Personal Savings Allowance position, which matters if you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer who has already used their allowance elsewhere.
- 4.81% AER (4.10% standard plus 0.71% bonus for 12 months)
- Fully tax-free interest via Cash ISA wrapper
- Instant access, no withdrawal penalties
- Online opening with Apple Pay and Google Pay integration in the Trading 212 app
The honest drawback is that the 0.71% bonus makes the long-term rate competitive but not exceptional once it expires, so you should be ready to switch or negotiate after year one.
Compared to Chip Easy Access Saver, Trading 212 Cash ISA offers the same style of app-based instant access but adds a meaningful tax advantage, making it the stronger choice for anyone who has used their Personal Savings Allowance or expects to earn significant interest income.
Best for: Savers who want a high easy-access ISA rate and prefer a dedicated savings app with round-up and goal-setting tools.
The Moneybox Cash ISA pays 4.75% AER variable, which includes a 1.30% bonus rate for the first 12 months. Once that bonus expires the underlying rate is around 3.45% AER, so this is a product that rewards active switchers. The account is free to open online and there are no withdrawal penalties, making it genuinely instant access. FSCS protection covers up to £85,000. Moneybox is well regarded for its round-up features, which mirror Chip's automatic-saving proposition but layer on top of an ISA wrapper.
- 4.75% AER variable (1.30% bonus for 12 months)
- ISA wrapper means interest is tax-free
- Round-up and goal-based saving tools in the app
- No joint account available, but straightforward individual application
The main caveat is that the standard rate after the bonus period is lower than some competitors, so Moneybox works best as part of an annual rate-chasing strategy rather than a set-and-forget account.
Compared to Chip Easy Access Saver, Moneybox adds the ISA tax shelter and the bonus rate is larger (1.30% versus the bonus element on standard Chip offers), but both products share the same fundamental caveat: the headline is a bonus-inflated figure, not the permanent rate.
Best for: Savers who want the reassurance of a mutual building society and are interested in a high-rate regular saver alongside an easy-access account.
Skipton Building Society offers an Easy Access Saver at around 3.85% AER variable for online customers, with no monthly fee and joint account availability, which Chip does not offer. FSCS protection applies to £85,000. The account can be opened online. What makes Skipton stand out is its Member Regular Saver, which pays up to 7.50% AER fixed for 12 months for existing members, one of the highest structured savings rates currently available in the UK. In our research, Skipton's combination of a solid easy-access base rate and a market-leading regular saver is hard to match if you can commit a fixed monthly deposit.
- Easy Access Saver at approximately 3.85% AER variable
- Member Regular Saver up to 7.50% AER (12 months, existing members)
- Joint accounts available, uncommon among digital-first providers
- FSCS protection to £85,000
The easy-access rate at Skipton is lower than Chip's headline figure, so pure rate chasers may be disappointed; the value lies in the overall relationship and the regular saver bolt-on.
Compared to Chip Easy Access Saver, Skipton's easy-access rate is more modest, but the absence of a teaser bonus means what you see is what you get for longer, and the joint account option and regular saver path are genuine differentiators.
Best for: Savers who want a transparent, bonus-free easy-access rate and are comfortable with a three-withdrawal limit per year.
Yorkshire Building Society's Triple Access eSaver pays 4.20% AER variable with no monthly fee and FSCS protection to £85,000. The account name tells you the main condition: you are limited to three withdrawals per 12-month period. If you make a fourth, the rate drops, so this product suits disciplined savers who park a lump sum and rarely need to dip in. Joint accounts are available. The account is opened online and the rate is published without a bonus component, which means you are comparing like for like with other non-bonus products rather than trying to strip out a promotional uplift.
- 4.20% AER variable, no bonus element included
- Three withdrawals per 12-month period before rate reduction applies
- Joint accounts available
- FSCS protection to £85,000
The three-withdrawal cap is the one structural limitation. Frequent dippers who might need to move money several times a year should look at a genuinely unrestricted easy-access account instead.
Compared to Chip Easy Access Saver, Yorkshire Building Society's rate is bonus-free, so the 4.20% figure is more durable, but Chip's round-up and automatic-saving tools are absent here, and Chip imposes no withdrawal restrictions.
Best for: Savers who want to spread deposits across multiple FSCS-protected banks through one login, or who want a range of fixed-term options alongside easy access.
Raisin UK is a savings marketplace rather than a single bank. Through one online account you can access easy-access accounts paying up to 4.00% AER variable and fixed-term deposits paying up to 4.80% AER from a panel of UK partner banks. Crucially, FSCS protection applies to up to £120,000 because deposits spread across multiple partner banks each attract their own £85,000 limit, giving higher-balance savers a meaningful coverage advantage. There is no monthly fee and opening is entirely online.
- Easy access up to 4.00% AER variable; fixed term up to 4.80% AER
- Effective FSCS coverage up to £120,000 across partner banks
- Single login for multiple product types and providers
- No joint account available through the marketplace
The marketplace model means rates change as partner banks update their offers, and not all products are available at all times. You are also applying indirectly through Raisin rather than directly to the bank, which adds a small layer of administrative friction if you ever need to query a transaction.
Compared to Chip Easy Access Saver, Raisin UK's standout advantage is the higher effective deposit protection ceiling, making it a better fit for savers with balances over £85,000 who want FSCS coverage on the full amount.
Best for: Savers who already use Plum for budgeting and want their easy-access savings in the same place, or who want a tiered rate structure with a clear upgrade path.
Plum's Easy Access Account pays 3.51% AER variable on the free plan, rising to up to 4.21% AER variable on the Premium subscription tier. FSCS protection applies to £85,000. The account is opened online through the Plum app, which also offers budgeting analytics, spending insights, and automatic saving rules, making it a close conceptual match to Chip's proposition. There is no monthly fee on the free plan, though Premium comes at a cost; users should weigh whether the rate uplift justifies the subscription.
- 3.51% AER (free plan) to 4.21% AER (Premium) variable
- Budgeting tools and automatic-saving features built into the app
- FSCS protection to £85,000
- No joint account option
The free-tier rate of 3.51% AER is materially lower than Chip's headline, and the Premium rate of 4.21% AER requires a paid subscription, so Plum is not automatically cheaper. Run the numbers on your balance before upgrading.
Compared to Chip Easy Access Saver, Plum is the most direct feature-for-feature rival, offering the same style of AI-assisted automatic saving and spending analysis, but Chip's headline rate is higher on a like-for-like basis unless you subscribe to Plum Premium.
Chip Easy Access Saver compared directly
| Chip Easy Access SaverChip Easy Access Saver | Trading 212 Cash ISA | Moneybox Cash ISA | Skipton Building Society Savings Account | Yorkshire Building Society Savings Account | |
| Rating | 4.0 /5 | 4.5 /5 | 4.3 /5 | 4.2 /5 | 4.2 /5 |
| Interest on savings account | ca. 3.50% AER easy access (Promo Boost: up to 5.01% AER for 6 months for new customers) | 4.81% AER variable (incl. 0.71% bonus for 12 months; standard rate 4.10% AER) | 4.75% AER variable (incl. 1.30% bonus for 12 months) | ca. 3.85% AER variable (Easy Access Saver); up to 7.50% AER (Member Regular Saver, 12 months) | 4.20% AER variable (Triple Access eSaver) |
| Deposit protection | 85.000 | 85.000 GBP | 85.000 GBP | 85.000 GBP | 85.000 GBP |
| Online account opening | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Welcome bonus | – | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Joint account | – | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Savings account | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
How we chose
What to look for in an alternative
Choosing a Chip Easy Access Saver alternative comes down to six criteria, each of which matters differently depending on how you save.
1. Gross rate versus bonus rate. Always check whether the advertised AER includes a time-limited bonus. A headline of 4.81% AER that decays to 4.10% after 12 months is a fundamentally different product from a stable 4.20% AER with no bonus. Bonus-heavy accounts favour active switchers; stable rates favour savers who set and hold. For example, Chip's own headline rate has historically included a bonus element, so Yorkshire Building Society's 4.20% AER bonus-free rate represents better long-term value for passive savers even though the headline looks lower.
2. ISA wrapper versus taxable interest. If you have already used your Personal Savings Allowance (£500 for higher-rate taxpayers, £0 for additional-rate), any taxable interest above that threshold costs you HMRC-clipped income. Trading 212 Cash ISA and Moneybox Cash ISA shelter all interest permanently. A 4.81% ISA rate beats a 4.90% taxable rate for a 40% taxpayer once tax is deducted.
3. Withdrawal conditions. Chip imposes no withdrawal restrictions. Yorkshire Building Society's Triple Access eSaver limits you to three withdrawals per year. True emergencies aside, three withdrawals is fine for most people, but know the rules before you commit a large sum.
4. Deposit protection. Every provider in this list carries FSCS protection, but the effective ceiling differs. Single-bank accounts protect up to £85,000. Raisin UK, by spreading deposits across partner banks, can protect up to £120,000 effectively. If your savings exceed £85,000, this is not a minor footnote.
5. Joint accounts. Chip does not offer joint accounts. Skipton Building Society and Yorkshire Building Society both do. For couples saving together, this can double effective FSCS protection to £170,000 on a single account.
6. App features versus raw rate. Chip's automatic-saving rules and round-ups are genuinely useful behavioural tools. Plum and Moneybox offer similar features. If you need the nudge to save consistently, a slightly lower rate in a feature-rich app may deliver better real-world outcomes than a marginally higher rate in a plain account you ignore.
Scenario routing: a frequent traveller who needs instant liquidity should prioritise Chip, Trading 212 or Moneybox for unrestricted access. A salary budgeter saving a fixed amount each month will find Skipton's Regular Saver at 7.50% AER compelling for the portion they can lock away monthly. A higher-rate taxpayer with allowances used up should move straight to the ISA options, with Trading 212 Cash ISA first for the highest tax-free rate and Moneybox Cash ISA second. A larger-balance saver with over £85,000 should look seriously at Raisin UK's multi-bank FSCS structure.
How to switch
Switching your easy-access savings in the UK is straightforward, though the Current Account Switch Service (CASS) applies only to current accounts, not savings accounts. For easy-access savings, you handle the move yourself in three steps.
Step 1: Open the new account before closing the old one. Apply online with your new provider, complete ID verification (usually a few minutes with a driving licence or passport), and receive your new account details. Do not close Chip yet. Most applications take under 10 minutes.
Step 2: Transfer funds. Log in to Chip and initiate a withdrawal to your linked current account or directly to your new savings account if the provider supports it. Easy-access accounts must make funds available without penalty, so the money typically lands within one working day. Once the transfer confirms, any standing order linked to Chip should be redirected to the new account.
Step 3: Close or retain Chip. Once funds have transferred and you have confirmed interest has been calculated correctly to the closure date, contact Chip via in-app chat to close the account. There is no penalty for keeping both accounts open if you want to use Chip's automatic-saving tools on a smaller balance while holding your main pot elsewhere.
Verdict
For most savers, Trading 212 Cash ISA is the strongest single alternative to Chip. The 4.81% AER (including bonus) is among the highest ISA rates on the market, the tax-free wrapper adds meaningful value for anyone who has used their Personal Savings Allowance, and the account is free, instant access, and fully FSCS protected. If you are a basic-rate taxpayer with allowances intact and prefer a bonus-free rate, Yorkshire Building Society Triple Access eSaver at 4.20% AER is the most transparent option available with no promotional period to track.
Savers who value the automatic-saving nudges that make Chip distinctive should look at Plum as the closest behavioural match, though they should verify whether the free-tier rate or a Premium subscription makes financial sense for their balance. Couples saving together should factor in Skipton Building Society for joint account access and the exceptional 7.50% AER Regular Saver path for monthly deposits. Finally, anyone with savings above £85,000 should make Raisin UK part of their shortlist for the extended effective FSCS coverage its multi-bank model provides.
More comparisons
FAQ
For most people, yes. Trading 212 Cash ISA currently offers 4.81% AER tax-free, which is higher than Chip's standard non-bonus rate and comes with the added benefit of an ISA wrapper. Higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers in particular will find an ISA materially better value once their Personal Savings Allowance is used.
All six alternatives on this list have no monthly fee on their standard tier, so the cost of holding the account is zero for all of them. The relevant comparison is the net-of-tax rate, not the account fee. For a higher-rate taxpayer, a 4.00% ISA rate is worth more take-home than a 4.50% taxable rate once HMRC's share is deducted.
Trading 212 Cash ISA and Moneybox Cash ISA are the two strongest picks. Interest earned inside an ISA is never taxed regardless of your marginal rate, so the full 4.81% AER (Trading 212) or 4.75% AER (Moneybox) flows to you directly. Higher-rate taxpayers whose Personal Savings Allowance is exhausted will find taxable accounts cost them 40p of every pound of interest earned above the threshold.
All six providers carry Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection, which means if the bank or building society were to fail, the scheme would pay out up to £85,000 per person per authorised institution. Raisin UK's marketplace can effectively extend this to £120,000 by spreading deposits across multiple partner banks, each carrying their own £85,000 limit. FSCS covers deposits, not investments, and does not cover market losses.
Yes, and in many cases it makes sense. You might keep a Chip account for its automatic-saving features on smaller monthly deposits while holding a lump sum in a Trading 212 Cash ISA or a Raisin UK fixed-term account. There is no regulatory limit on the number of easy-access savings accounts you can hold simultaneously, though your Cash ISA allowance is capped at £20,000 per tax year across all ISA types combined.
If a UK-authorised bank or building society fails, FSCS pays out up to £85,000 per person per institution within seven working days for easy-access accounts. If you hold deposits across multiple providers via Raisin UK, each underlying bank's balance is assessed separately. In most cases the FSCS initiates the payout automatically and you do not need to make a claim yourself.
Savings accounts are not covered by the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), so you transfer the money yourself. Open the new account first, then withdraw from Chip via the app (funds arrive within one working day), and deposit into your new account. Finally, notify Chip via in-app chat to close your account once you have confirmed the interest calculation is correct to the closure date.
Interest from taxable easy-access accounts is subject to income tax. Basic-rate taxpayers have a Personal Savings Allowance of £1,000 per year; higher-rate taxpayers have £500; additional-rate taxpayers have £0. Interest above your allowance is taxed at your marginal rate (20%, 40%, or 45%). Interest earned inside a Cash ISA is tax-free permanently and does not count against the allowance. If you are approaching your allowance limit, moving savings into an ISA is usually the most efficient step.